Incubator Temperatures

The correct temperature for incubating parrot eggs is 37.5°C. A temperature
fractionally lower than this say 37.2°C would be considerably safer
than a higher temperature. Any temperatures above 37.5°C are considerably
more dangerous than lower temperatures.

At
PARROTCARE we have a dozen or more mercury thermometers. By trial and
error we have established a control thermometer, from which all other
thermometers are calibrated. Even the most accurate and expensive mercury
thermometers can be out by up to about ½ ° which can cause the eventual
failure of the egg during incubation. I have modified the incubators at
PARROTCARE to ensure that the thermometer is directly above any egg being
incubated.

Maybe we're old
fashioned, but we do not trust digital thermometers for this task. Whenever
in the incubation room the first job is to check temperatures in both
incubators and hatchers for accuracy. Any changes from the norm are registered
and rectified. A temperature of say 38°C, i.e. ½° higher than
is recommended, will not kill the embryo immediately, but eventually weaken
the embryo where it will fail to hatch or die. A lower temperature can
be rectified provided it is noticed within 2 days of the problem occurring.

Changes in temperature
during the first part of incubation are often more critical than in the
latter stages. It is therefore recommended to leave any eggs with the
parents for at least 21 days if possible.

In the early
stages of incubating eggs at PARROTCARE we used to routinely sterilise
all eggs. I have ceased to do this in the past 10 years as on one occasion
I am sure that the embryos were destroyed by the disinfectant. Once an
egg is disinfected, it has no resistance to the entry of bacteria or fungus.
I would not recommend the disinfection of parrot's eggs and prefer to
leave them with the natural resistance which has been built in by the
hen.

THE TEXT ABOVE IS
FROM "PARROT INCUBATION PROCEDURE AND HAND FEEDING" A PARROTCARE PUBLICATION
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